Garth CartwrightGarth Cartwright

Garth Cartwright is a New Zealand writer living in Peckham, South London. His books include the cult classic Princes Amongst Men: Journeys with Gypsy Musicians (2005), and the strange roadtrip Sweet As: Journeys in a New Zealand Summer. His next book, due to be published soon, is Going For A Song: The Great British Record Shop As Oracle. Garth was born in Auckland in 1964.

Every day is record store day

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Kiwi author Garth Cartwright is on the shortlist for the UK’s prestigious Penderyn Prize – the Booker of music books – and the winner is announced any minute now*. His subject? A history of the British record shop. I’m often asked, “What inspires you to write books?” I wish I could answer, “Money.” I’d like … Read more

Bulgarian rhapsody: Garth Cartwright on the return of Kapka Kassabova

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Bucharest, Sofia, Edinburgh, Mt Roskill….An essay by traveler Garth Cartwright on another exile, Kapka Kassabova, on the occasion of her acclaimed new book. It’s December 1992 and I’ve just got off the bus from Bucharest, Romania, to Sofia, Bulgaria. Bucharest lay in ruins due to the late dictator Ceausescu’s vision of demolishing the historic city centre … Read more